A failover cluster is a group of independent computers that work together to increase the availability of applications and services. The clustered servers (called nodes) are connected by physical cables and by software. If one of the cluster nodes fails, another node begins to provide service (a process known as failover). Users experience a minimum of disruptions in service. This guide describes the steps for configuring Remote Desktop Connection Broker (RD Connection Broker) in a failover cluster, as part of a configuration that provides users with access to personal virtual desktops or virtual machines in a virtual desktop pool through RemoteApp and Desktop Connection. As you work with the configuration in this guide, you can also learn about failover clusters and familiarize yourself with the Failover Cluster Manager snap-in in Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise or Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter.

5. RD Connection Broker receives information about a virtual machine and then provides that information to the virtual machine redirector.

6. The virtual machine redirector communicates through the RD Gateway, providing the client with the IP address and connection information for a virtual desktop.

7. The client connects to a virtual desktop.

8. The virtual desktop is displayed on the client.

The following illustration shows the same sequence of events occurring despite the failure of one node of the cluster. Because a second cluster node is still running, it can respond to client requests as they occur.